Control Unit With Variable Visual Indicator

ABSTRACT

A system for controlling an apparatus ( 11, 21, 31 ), which system comprises a control unit ( 13, 23, 33 ) adapted to transfer control signals to the apparatus dependent on the control data. Said control unit comprises data input means ( 14, 24, 34, 44 ) to input said control data, and said apparatus comprises interpreting means adapted to translate said control signal into an action. Aiming to indicate for a user of the control unit, which action the apparatus is arranged to take when activating the data input means, a visual indicator is arranged on said data input means. The invention is characterized in that said data input means comprises a variable presentation means ( 45, 57 ), arranged to realise said indicator, wherein said control unit comprises a first storage means ( 53 ) adapted to store the visual data presentable with said presentation unit. Preferably, said control unit comprises several separate data input means, each provided with a presentation means, in which each  presentation means comprises separate displays, arranged to present a picture dependent on said visual data.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to control units arranged with datainput means, which control units are devised to transmit control signalsdependent on the activation of said data input means. More precisely theinvention is related to control units wherein said data input means aredevised with variable visual indicators.

BACKGROUND

Each day a great number of electronic equipment are used, for whichequipment control signals often are needed or wanted. For this purposespecially adapted control units are often used. Examples of such controlunits are keyboards for computers, remote controls for TV-sets, stereorecorders or other electronic apparatus, key pads on mobile phones andcalculators, etc. Consequently, the term control unit refers both tosuch that are integrated with the apparatus they are adapted to transmitcontrol signals to, and such control units that can be communicativelyconnected to different apparatuses for transfer of control signals.

The type of control units referred to is more precisely such thatinclude some form of data input means, e.g. press-down keys, rotarycontrols, switches, etc. In most cases these data input means areequipped with visual indicators devised to present an indication of thecontrol signal the control unit is devised to emit at the activation ofthe data input means. In general, the visual indicators consist ofpre-printed or raised markings. On a keyboard, symbols are used thatdirectly indicate which character the control signal will be interpretedas by the existing computer program in the computer the keyboard isadapted to control. For example, if the “A” button is activated in atext editing program, the character a or A will be shown on the computerscreen. Furthermore, certain buttons of the keyboard are devised withindicators that refer to a function or action that is commanded by thecontrol unit at the activation of said button. This concerns thefunction keys, but also, for example, the return key and the arrow keys.Further, there are on a keyboard a number of keys that will activatealternative actions or characters when pushed simultaneously, incombination with one another, or with other keys. These keys includeShift, Alt, Ctrl and Alt Gr. In some cases these alternative charactersare shown with separate indicators on the keys, e.g. all the charactersthat are activated through a simultaneous holding-down of the uppernumeric row and Alt-Gr on a regular PC-keyboard.

Already with two characters indicated on one key, it may be difficult tofind the characters one is seeking, even though it is shown on the key.If three or more characters are indicated on the keys, the generalappearance of the keyboard will fail to be lucid. A key with severalcharacters implicate, apart from having additional characters on thekeyboard, that the characters must be smaller to fit on the key.Alternative characters and functions that are not expected to be used ina greater extent are therefor often not indicated.

On mobile phones, e.g., which have a tendency to become smaller andsmaller, there is often both a number and between three and four lettersindicated on each key, which key is often very small, around half acentimetre. As a result thereof, the characters indicated on the keybecome very small, and it is both difficult and time-consuming to writemessages with the key pad of the mobile phone. Similar problems existfor most non-stationary control units. One problem is that the aim ofmaking the control units small and flexible to use, in some casesbecomes the clean contrary to the aim of designing a control unit whichis able to emit a large number of different control signals, whereby themanufacturers often have to compromise.

A solution to this problem that is often used is the use of a menusystem on the display of the apparatus the control unit is devised tocontrol. This concerns for instance both computers and mobile phones,but also TV-sets. This basically enables an unlimited range of functionsor characters per key, but a consequence thereof is that the indicationof which control signals will be activated is shown on another placethan on the key.

Another problem related to data input means having visual indicators isthat it is predefined during manufacturing which indicators are devisedon each key, rotary control, etc. If one only uses some of the existingkeys, e.g. on a keyboard, the user has to accept the fact that they maybe scattered all over the keyboard. It would of course be desirable ifthese keys could be arranged on suitable places, for example gatheredtogether in a group or as an optional fingering. If one uses a computerprogram devised to interpret some keys as special commands, it wouldalso be desirable if it were possible to indicate this as accurately andclearly as possible. This concerns e.g. computer-games or TV-games.Further, it would be desirable to be able to rearrange these specialcommands to optional keys. The problems with work-related injuries whichare more and more apparent and related to working with a mouse pointer,make it desirable to transfer more and more functions and characters tothe keys.

In computer software, often in the operative system, there are decodingsystems that are devised to decide how the pressed buttons on thekeyboard should be interpreted. These decoding systems are oftenadjustable so that different keyboard configurations can be enabled.Thus, it is possible, for instance, to change the alphabet from Roman toCyrillic, or to Japanese characters. However, a re-configured keyboardbecomes difficult to master since the indications on the keys remainunchanged.

In WO97/45794, a computer without a traditional keyboard is shown, andthe computer is instead devised with two screens. One screen is used fordata input, for example by direct writing on the screen through the useof a suitable pen unit. The screen can also be devised to show picturesand functions of a keyboard where even different alphabets can be used.One inconvenience with the presented solution is however that thefeeling of working with separates keys is lost, at which one must bevery accurate to guarantee that the fingers do not glide out of thedesired finguring. Another inconvenience is that the input screen mustbe of a touch-screen type, which is considerably less robust thantraditional keys.

The object of the present invention is, thus, to supply control unitswith data input means that overcome the problems with the prior art asmentioned above.

One aspect of the object is to supply a control unit which in a simpleway can be configured to be adapted to different users or purposes.

An additional aspect of this object is to supply a control unit having alimited number of data input means and being arranged to emit a largenumber of different control signals without limiting the accessibilityto the corresponding characters and functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the object to solve the above-mentioned problems, the presentinvention refers to a system for controlling an apparatus, which systemcomprises a control unit adapted for transmission of control signals tothe apparatus, dependent on control data. Said control unit comprisesdata input means for input of said control data, and said apparatuscomprises interpreting means adapted to translate said control signalsto an action. For the purpose of indicating to a user of a control unitwhich action the apparatus is set to take at the activation of the datainput means, a visual indicator is provided on said data input means.The invention is characterized in that said data input means comprises avariable presentation means, devised to realise said indicator, wherebysaid control unit comprises a first storage means adapted to storeappearance data which is presentable by means of said presentationmeans. Preferably said control unit comprises a plurality of separatedata input means, each equipped with a presentation means, where eachpresentation means comprises between themselves separate displaysdevised to present an image dependent on said appearance data.

In a preferred embodiment, said displays are LCD's with a plurality ofpixels, whereby said appearance data includes pixel data. Said controlunit can be a remote control to said apparatus, wireless or connectablethrough a cable. Examples of such embodiments are remote controls forTV-sets and video recorders, or other electronic apparatus. Anotherexample is the keyboard for a computer. The control unit can also beintegrated with said apparatus, for example the key pad on a mobilephone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail belowwith references to the accompanying drawings, on which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a computer with a keyboard, realisedaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a TV-set and a remote control, realisedaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a mobile phone with an integrated keypad, realised according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a number of keys with variablepresentation means, according to the present invention:

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically a preferred circuit solution for acontrol unit, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the FIGS. 1 through 3, examples of devices are outlined for which thepresent invention is of use and advantageous. In FIG. 1, a computer 11is schematically illustrated, which is equipped with a presentation unit12 in the shape of a screen. Keyboard 13 is arranged as a userinterface, which keyboard serves as a control unit for the computer.Further, the keyboard is arranged in a known manner with a plurality ofdata input means in the shape of keys 14. The user gives control data tothe keyboard by means of the keys and control signals are therebytransmitted from the keyboard in the figure, to the computer. Saidcommunication connection could be wire dependent or wireless. In thecomputer there is an interpreting means comprising a computer programdevised to decode the control signals, so as to interpret which actionor measures the user has ordered.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a TV-set 21 that is equipped with apresentation unit 22 in the shape of a picture tube, plasma screen orsimilar. The control unit 23 is a remote control, on which buttons orkeys 24 are arranged for the input of control data. Control signals arethereby transmitted from the remote control, by means of IR, bluetoothor cable, to the TV-set. In the TV-set, there is a receiver mounted,devised to act as an interpreting unit, for the purpose of interpretingwhich measures the user wants the TV-set to execute.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a mobile phone 31, equipped with adisplay 32. The control unit of the mobile phone is its key pad 33,which is integrated with the apparatus 31. The key pad is provided withbuttons/keys 34, and in some cases rotary controls or similar. When thecontrol unit and the apparatus are integrated, the transmission ofcontrol signal is provided by means of physical connections, for examplethrough cables or wires formed on a printed circuit board.

Common for all embodiments of the present invention is that the datainput means of the control units are equipped with a presentation means45 enabling immediate reconfiguration of the data input means. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, outlined in FIG. 4, each datainput means include a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). In FIG. 4, theinvention is illustrated for seven keys 44 of a computer keyboard, andit is understood that the arrangement with a display 45 on the key isvalid for one or more of the control units' keys 44, rotary controlsetc. Equally, it is understood that the control unit can have anarbitrary number of keys. Consequently, the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4 should merely be considered as an example aiming to clearlyillustrate the invention.

In the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 4, each key comprises a16×16 pixel LCD. Each display 45 is encapsulated, meaning that thedisplay 45 is not compressed when the key is pushed down. Thearrangement with these variable presentation means 45 on the keys 44 hasconsequently no mechanical importance for the function of the keys,which keys can be arranged in a known manner with a matrix decoder or astotally separated contactors.

Referring to FIG. 5, a preferred embodiment of the invention isdescribed below, wherein said control unit is a computer keyboard. FIG.5 shows schematically a preferred embodiment of a circuit solution forthe control unit, i.e. the keyboard, according to the present invention.The control unit comprises a processor 51, arranged to handle thepresentation means of the data input units, i.e. the displays on thekeys. Through a PLD (Programmable Logic Unit) 52, the processor 51 isconnected to a memory means in the form of a Flash ROM 53. Datarepresenting the different visual indicators the displays are set toshow are stored in this memory 53. Consequently, pixel data for a numberof different characters is stored therein. To the PLD 52 and the memory53 is also a second memory 54 connected, preferably a SRAM. In thissecond memory the configuration of the characters for the different keysof the keyboard is stored. In this second memory 54, information isconsequently stored indicating that key i,j shall show the character R,key i,j+1 shall show the character T, etc. In this second memory 54there are pointers, which point towards data stored in the first memory53, for the characters included in the configuration defined in thesecond memory 54.

The keyboard is operated in two modes: Download and Operation. In theDownload mode, the processor, which comprises an internal program andits own data memory, receives data from a computer. The received datacomprises either appearance data for one or several keys, orconfiguration data with information on mapping of different characterson different keys. The appearance data thus describes the appearance forone or several separate keys, and therefor includes pixel data for acharacter or symbol. The configuration data describes the allocation ofeach character or symbol to different keys on the keyboard. When theDownload mode is initiated, the PLD takes control of the data andaddresses buses to memory banks. Received configuration data is storedin the memory 54, which enables rapid reconfiguration of the characters,while the appearance data for the characters is stored in the memory 53for non-volatile storage when the current supply is turned off. When theDownload mode is completed, the PLD's exits are set to high impedancemode, and will thereby not interfere with the bus during the Operationmode.

During the Operation mode, a binary counter 55 controls theaddress-lines to the configuration memory 54 by means of a clock pulsegenerator. The output data from the configuration memory 54, which goesthrough the characters for the current configuration in a cyclic manner,is used to address the high eight bits in the character memory 53.Simultaneously the counter 55 addresses the display matrix 56. In orderto ease understanding, FIG. 5 shows only nine displays 57 in the matrix56, but it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that an arbitrarynumber of displays can be included in the display matrix 56. Thedisplays 57 correspond to the displays 45 in FIG. 4. Each display 57corresponds to one key. The displays 57 of the matrix are addressed bythe counter in a multiplexed manner, where rows and columns areaddressed each in turn through a set of decoders and buffers. Thedecoder 58 circulates over the display rows, and the rows are addressedby means of a three-state buffer 59. Further, the decoder 60 is arrangedto circulate through the display columns, and a decoder 61 is arrangedto address pixel columns for each display column.

Preferably, the pixel columns of one display row are addressed at atime, in order to prevent the displays to flash at low frequencies. Thisis a solution comparable to the one used in TV interlacing, where oddand even rows are shown alternately. In a preferred embodiment of theinvention, the decoder 60 first addresses the first display column. Thedecoder 58 circulates thereafter through the three-state buffers 59 fromthe first to the last row of the display, at which the pixel data foreach pixel column is addressed by means of the first of the decoders 61.Thereafter, the decoder 60 addresses the second display column, and theoutput of pixel data to the respective display proceeds in acorresponding manner by cycling through the display rows.

Owing to the distinction between the data banks for the characterconfiguration in memory 54 and the appearance of the characters inmemory 53, the characters can quickly be rearranged into a newconfiguration without needing to download new characters to thekeyboard. Thanks to the non-volatile nature of the Flash-ROM's memory53, the characters do not have to be downloaded before each use of thekeyboard. When downloading is needed, this is arranged through asuitable link 62 to a computer.

It should be noted that during the Operation mode the keyboard does notneed to have access to a computer, which enables remote control ofapparatuses. The keyboard must, however, have access to some sort of apower supply, preferably a battery. In a preferred embodiment saidsecond memory 54 comprises configuration data for a number ofpre-defined configurations of which only one can be active at a time.That enables a quick and easy rearrangement of the configuration of thekeyboard for different purposes or users.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above,nothing concerning the function of the keys has been mentioned.Irrespective of which character or symbol that is visually indicated onthe keys, the same control signal is transferred from the keyboard tothe computer at the activation of the keys. In an ordinary state of theart keyboard, which includes a matrix decoder, a scan code istransferred at the activation of a key, from the keyboard to thecomputer. In the keyboard according to the present invention, thetransmission of the control signal, e.g. scan codes, can be transferredover the same communication link 62, used for downloading data to thekeyboard, or through some other communication link. In the computer,there is a scan code interpreting means or a decoder in the form of acomputer program, arranged to interpret, based upon said control signal,which action the user wants to perform. In the present invention, saidcode decoder is intimately associated with the character configurationfor the keyboard arranged to control the computer.

For browsing and for selection of the configurations and the specifickeys, the present invention includes a computer program product, whichis preferably executable on the apparatus the control unit is adapted tocontrol, i.e. the computer in what is now described. According to afirst aspect, the computer program for selection is arranged to show aplurality of different character configurations to choose among. This ispreferably done by visualizing the keyboards' 13 keys 14 on thecomputer's 11 screen 12, where each key is shown with the appearance andthe location defined by the configuration in question. The computerprogram can be arranged to show one character configuration at a time,with the possibility to browse, or to show several differentconfigurations simultaneously. According to this first aspect thecomputer program also includes means for selecting a specific characterconfiguration, and means for transferring a quantity of datarepresenting the selected character configuration to the control unit.In case the selected character configuration solely includes charactersthat are already stored in the memory 53 of the keyboard, thetransmission of the new character configuration to the keyboard onlybrings about a change in the configuration memory 54. If new charactersare also included, then also memory 53 is updated. According to a secondaspect, the computer program is arranged to show a visualization of thekeys of the keyboard, and a set of characters to choose among on thecomputer's screen. The characters to choose among can be shown on thescreen in a matrix or a table and sorted in a alphabetic order, numericorder or by character type. With character type is meant for exampleletters, numbers, arrows etc. With the help of the mouse pointer, theappearance of the key can be selected by click-and-drag from the tableto the key on the visualized keyboard to which one wishes to give theappearance in question.

Preferably one can also choose the action that is to be taken for eachkey. Preferably there are a number of standard keys where the action ispredefined, for example the letters and the numbers. In a preferredembodiment, the action related to the selected character is the printoutof the actual character at activation of the selected key. By choosingamongst different actions from a list, for example by using the mouseand different menus, the software will however allow a change of action.

During restructuring of the character configuration according to thesecond aspect, where in a very simple example, the A- and B-keys can bearranged to shift location, naturally, the control unit, i.e. thekeyboard is also affected concerning the characters to be presented. Inthis example, the data is changed in memory 54, so that the presentconfiguration points onto the correct character in memory 53 withregards to the characters A and B. The possible change of action that isselected, which action is to be taken at activation of the A- and B-key,respectively, is registered in the scan code decoder of the computer butdoes not affect the keyboard. In a preferred embodiment of the computerprogram according to said second aspect, visualizing means are alsoincluded, for visualizing, on a computer screen, a return location forcharacters whereby characters can be pulled from keys on the visualizedkeyboard by means of the mouse pointer and be placed in the returnlocation. The computer program is thereby arranged to automatically, andpreferably visually, put back the returned character to its location inthe character table.

According to a third aspect, said computer program includes means forvisualizing a character, wherein the possibility to edit the characteris given. For the illustrated example in FIG. 4, where each character isrepresented by 16×16 pixels, such a pixel map is preferably visualizedon the computer's 11 screen 12. The software subsequently enablesmarking of the pixels one wishes to activate, e.g. by means of the mousepointer. When one has finished the editing, one clicks a OK-buttonpresented by the computer program, at which the appearance for a newcharacter is created. This character is then placed into the previouslymentioned character table, in a location chosen by either the user orautomatically by the computer program. In one embodiment the appearancedata is also automatically downloaded to the keyboard for storage inmemory 53. During construction or editing of a character, thepossibility of selecting action is also given, according to what hasbeen said above.

According to a fourth aspect, said computer program includes means fortransfering picture data for an arbitrary picture to a file format thatis adapted for presentation on the keys. Therefor, the computer programis arranged to split the information of a given picture into 16×16pixels, and to visually present the transformed picture for the user onthe computer screen. The transformed picture can then be editedaccording to the above-mentioned third aspect.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the computer iscommunicatively connectable to a database in a communication network,e.g. the Internet. Further, the computer includes means for receivingand transmitting data from and to the above-mentioned database. By datais here meant both the separate appearance data for keys and theconfiguration data for the whole keyboard. The apparatus furthercomprises means for downloading configuration data and appearance datafrom said database, for the purpose of transmitting the downloaded datato the keyboard, where the data is stored in memories 53 and 54,respectively.

According to the invention, not only characters like letters and numberscan be selected, referring to the appearance and location. This couldalso be valid for keys that have other functions, like Shift, Alt andReturn. Further, standard functions or actions, which on a keyboard areaccessible only by means of combined key commands, can be configured ona specific key, at which only one keystroke is needed for the activationof the actual function or action. For example, a save button can bearranged and supplied with a suitable symbol.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a key on akeyboard is arranged for browsing between the character configurations.The activation of this browse key firstly renders browsing of the visualindicators between different configurations, i.e. a change in theappearance of the keys on the keyboard, and secondly to a change in thecomputer's decoder, dependent on the changed appearance data, so thatthe scan codes are interpreted as the correct actions. The activation ofthis browse key consequently includes communication 62 between thekeyboard and the computer. The functionality of the browse key makes itespecially easy to reconfigure the key settings for the keyboard. Thisis especially advantageous when there is a limited number of keys, or atleast fewer keys than the desired number of key functions. Consequently,the browse key can be arranged to be used as the Shift- or the AltGr-key. For example, in one embodiment, a keyboard could be arrangedwith a row of numeric keys at the top of the keyboard, as is normallythe case, but where only the numbers are indicated on the keys' displayin one mode. A single keystroke of the browse key will thereby replacethe numbers with the alternative characters, corresponding to thecombined activation of Shift and the respective key, i.e. the characters!, “, #. Additional activation of the browse key may render thesealternative characters to be replaced with the next setting ofalternative keys, which correspond to the combined activation of the AltOr key and the respective number key, i.e. @, £, etc. The result thereofis both that the keyboard can be made easier to interpret, since fewercharacters are shown simultaneously on each keys, and also that all thekeys on the keyboard can be arranged with one or more alternative keysthat are clearly shown by browsing with the browse key. A particularlyadvantageous embodiment of the invention, arranged with the browse key,is where the apparatus is realized as a mobile phone 31. An ordinarymobile phone has a range of 12-15 keys 34, of which the number keys 0-9are dominating. Text input, for example for an SMS message, can becomeboth difficult and time consuming since the input of each character maydemand up to four keystrokes. In a mobile phone according to the presentinvention, a plurality or all of the keys or buttons of the mobile phoneare arranged with displays. During normal operation, when the numberkeys are mostly used, these keys are arranged to show the numbers only.During input of text, the browse key of the mobile phone is activated,rendering the displays on the number keys to show letters in stead. Inone embodiment each key can assume the appearance of several differentletters, whereby the text input progresses as normal. In another, andpreferred, embodiment the number keys are reconfigured from showing 0-9to show A-J at a first activation of the browse key. Additionalactivation of the browse key renders the keys to show the letters K-T,and so on. In accordance with what has been described for the embodimentwherein the apparatus is a computer, activation of the browse keynaturally also renders the action taken upon the activation ofcorresponding key to changes when its appearance changes. In oneembodiment the browse key is realized as two keys arranged to browseupwards and downwards, respectively, similar to what already is commonfor mobile phones for browsing in the menu system.

In another embodiment of the present invention, said control unit isarranged for controlling a number of different apparatuses. The controlunit can e.g. be a central and portable control unit for controllingdevices in so called intelligent homes. Thus, the control unit can bedevised to be able to communicate with, e.g. the TV, the video recorder,the refrigerator, the answering machine etc. In a preferred embodimentthe browse button is then used for quick and easy reconfiguration of thecontrol unit to a key set that is adapted for an apparatus one wishes tocontrol. Preferably, the control unit of this embodiment includes partsof what was included in the apparatus in the previously mentioneddescription of the embodiment with the computer and the keyboard, i.e.the computer itself. Thus, the embodiment with one control unit devisedto control several different apparatuses is equipped with aninterpreting unit, a decoder for scan codes or similar that are emittedupon a keystroke. The control unit is thereby devised to adapt outgoingcontrol signals dependent on the character configuration, wherebybrowsing with the browse button between the different characterconfigurations enables the communication with different apparatuses.With this arrangement, one push on the browse button can enable thecontrol unit to show keys that are adapted for communication with theTV-set. Further browsing with the browse button causes, e.g. thecharacter configuration on the control unit to assume the appearance ofthe suited symbols for communicating with a refrigerator in anintelligent home, for example the customer cart and different basicconsumer goods.

Other advantages with the browsing functionality, when using a computer,is e.g. the capability to brows between mathematical or physicalsymbols, special writing or drawing characters, or to bring up acharacter configuration where different keys could show in a distinctvisual manner a symbol for a computer program, at which the computerprogram could be activated by the activation of the respective keys. Thefunctionality consequently enables a very simple execution of functions,which before demanded many keystrokes, alternatively combinations ofseveral keys, or the use of a mouse. The invention is also usable toadapt control units in form of game consoles to game appliances likecomputer games or TV games. At that, different keys can be givendifferent appearances reflecting different events, accessories etc. Theinvention also enables easy reconfiguration of the game consoles fordifferent games or players.

Many examples of embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed above, but many more imaginable applications and embodimentsof the present invention are possible. The scope of the invention isonly limited by the accompanying claims.

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 29. A methodof configuring a plurality of display-equipped depressible keys of acontrol unit of an electronic device, comprising the steps of: (a)visualizing on a display screen of an electronic device, an image thatis displayable on a display of a display-equipped depressible keycomprised of a plurality of rows and columns of editable pixels; (b)editing the image by activating one of the pixels using a humaninterface device; (c) accepting the image after editing is finished instep (b) using the human interface device; and (d) communicating imageappearance data corresponding to the edited image to the Internet. 30.The method of claim 29 wherein the image appearance data correspondingto the edited image is downloadable from the Internet by a connectedelectronic device having a control unit equipped with a plurality ofdisplay-equipped depressible keys and displayable on a display of one ofthe plurality of display-equipped depressible keys.
 31. The method ofclaim 29 wherein the image appearance data corresponding to the editedimage is communicated in step (d) to the Internet by transmitting theimage appearance data to a database on the Internet from which theelectronic device that is connected to the Internet can download theimage appearance data.
 32. The method of claim 29 wherein the electronicdevice comprises a computer and the human interface device comprises amouse that activates one of the pixels in step (b) by marking the pixel.33. The method of claim 32 wherein a mouse pointer is used to mark theone of the pixels in step (b).
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein afterstep (c) the edited image is placed in a table.
 35. The method of claim34 further comprising the step of associating the edited image with aspecific display-equipped key of a control unit of the electronicdevice.
 36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step ofassociating an action with the display-equipped key with which theedited image has been associated.
 37. The method of claim 29 whereinbefore step (a) the further step of transforming a picture into a fileformat displayable on a display-equipped depressible key of a controlunit of an electronic device.
 38. The method of claim 29, comprising thefurther steps of (1) visualizing on the display screen, a plurality ofcharacters of a character configuration that are each displayable on adisplay-equipped depressible key, (2) visualizing on the display screen,a plurality of display-equipped depressible keys of a control unit, and(3) selecting one of the characters of the visualized characterconfiguration and associating the selected one of the characters withone of the visualized display-equipped depressible keys using the humaninterface device.
 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the humaninterface device comprises a mouse and the one of the characters of thevisualized character configuration is selected and associated with oneof the visualized display-equipped depressible keys by clicking anddragging the selected character to the one of the visualizeddisplay-equipped depressible keys using the mouse.
 40. The method ofclaim 39, wherein the visualized character configuration comprises atable.
 41. The method of claim 29, comprising the further steps of (1)visualizing on the display screen, a plurality of characterconfigurations each comprised of a plurality characters displayable on adisplay-equipped depressible key, (2) visualizing on the display screen,a plurality of display-equipped depressible keys of a control unit, and(3) selecting one of the character configurations using the humaninterface device for associating with the visualized plurality ofdisplay-equipped depressible keys of a control unit.
 42. A method ofconfiguring a plurality of display-equipped depressible keys of acontrol unit of an electronic device, comprising the steps of: (a)providing a computer-executable program configured to (1) visualize, ona display screen of a computer equipped with a display screen and ahuman interface device, (i) an image displayable on a display of adisplay-equipped depressible key, comprised of a plurality of rows andcolumns of pixels, (ii) a plurality of characters displayable on aplurality of displays of display-equipped depressible keys as acharacter configuration comprised of appearance image data for eachcharacter of the character configuration and configuration data of whichimage of which character is to be displayed on which display-equippeddepressible key of a control unit, (iii) a plurality of characterconfigurations, and (iv) a plurality of display-equipped depressiblekeys of a control unit, and (2) manipulate, using the human interfacedevice, (i) the image visualized on the display screen by marking pixelsto produce image appearance data, (ii) one of a plurality of charactersof the character configuration by associating it with one of thevisualized plurality of display-equipped depressible keys of the controlunit, and (iii) one of the plurality of sets of character configurationsby selecting the one of the plurality of sets of characterconfigurations; (b) producing image appearance data and configurationdata for a control unit having a plurality of display-equipped keys ofan electronic device using the computer-executable program in step (a);and (c) communicating at least one of the image appearance data andconfiguration data for a plurality of display-equipped depressible keysto an electronic device equipped with a control unit having a pluralityof display-equipped depressible keys.
 43. The method of claim 42comprising the further step of communicating the at least one of imageappearance data and configuration data to a database on the Internet andduring step (c) the at least one of the image appearance data andconfiguration data is communicated from the Internet by the electronicdevice equipped with the control unit having the plurality ofdisplay-equipped depressible keys.
 44. The method of claim 42,comprising the further step of using the human interface device toassign an action to be taken for at least one of the display-equippeddepressible keys of a control unit of electronic device.
 45. The methodof claim 44, wherein the assigned action is selected from a list ofactions using the human interface device.
 46. The method of claim 45,wherein the human interface device comprises a mouse.
 47. The method ofclaim 42 wherein in step (a) the computer-executable program is furtherconfigured to transform a picture into a format displayable on at leastone display-equipped depressible key of a control unit of an electronicdevice.